We should be playing Gaskell now, to allow Brown to assess him before he makes a signing at stand off (unless we're targeting a marquee signing, which I cannot see).

Gaskell could claim the shirt as his own given the chance and allow us to concentrate on other areas in recruitment.

Brown may well want some experience in at half back, which is fair enough.

I cant see anyone out there that we would get unless we payed a fee which won't happen

If he's actively looking for a quality, out of contract stand off, there's one at Warrington who may want a swansong at his boyhood club.

think he will sign new deal at wire

I really can't see Briers wanting to come back here

I just find that bizarre, I really do. With Gaskell there and Hohaia as cover, the player coming in would have to be one hell of a player to make it worth it. I really don't see how that player could come from Super League.

Maybe brown just doesn't want lance anywhere near the halfback postion

and i'd agree with him!

So it's potentially a backup stand off we're looking for? It doesn't necessarily mean a starting player that the team is going to be built around in terms of attacking moves etc?

That's not how Pete's post read.

He suggested the club were actively looking for a stand off with Gaskell as a fall back. If that's true, I'd agree it's a bizarre situation unless a worldie becomes available.

But, given we were allegedly in the market for Smith, it doesn't suggest our sights are set so high...

I heard from sources that we've signed a New Zealand centre for next season? Maybe a month or two ago, has anybody else heard anything similar?

Not Saints, but being reported on Twitter and in the press that a world record bid is in the offing for Rangi Chase.

Wire favourites to get him but are in a fight with Wigan.

Do Wire have a salary cap or are they exempt??



I can understand Wigan having room considering their squad looks like it will be decimated by the end of the year with Carmont, Finch, Lulu, and Lima defo gone and Mossop being touted round the NRL.

Simply has to be Wigan doesn't it? Until they announce Smith they've got no halfbacks for next season and are losing an enormous chunk of their cap.

Wire would be able to spend the money, as would Hull and Leeds, but I can't see why Warrington would want to spend it on Chase when they've got Myler/Ratchford/O'Brien/Briers.

I'd be made up if it were us though. We'd be back, just on the intent alone.

If Wire want Chase and are willing to pay, that would suggest Briers is surplus to requirements.

Briers at Saints, they were some good matches. He's be homegrown too another one off the production line, just had to spend some time on loan at a smaller local club....

I don't think Chase would be the organiser we wanted, to similar to Lomax and Lance surely???? Danny Ore is the organiser that lets Chase go and improvise.

I don't think that Chase and Lomax would work as a partnership...although someone else would work brilliantly with Lomax from that small club down the road

Brown has told McManus we need a stand off, he'd told he thinks it's priority before any other postion.

If they can find one or not is another thing.


On the chase subject, I posted on here a month ago that Wigan wanted him but don't be surprised to see Leeds come in for him.

Briers, for all his talent, certainly contributed a missed tackle to at least two of Leeds's 3 tries last weekend.

I'm interested to see how Brown sees the spine of the team shaping up.

Will Wellens get a new deal? Brown doesn't see Hohaia as a halfback and we have Makinson and/or Lomax who can play fullback should we need them to, so I would be surprised if he was kept on - Brown doesn't strike me as the sentimental type and I would assume he wants more pace and attacking threat from fullback. His dispensation from the cap may help him on that score though.

He is definitely in the market for a 6 so where does this leave Gaskell? Is he or Lomax our long-term halfback? Will Gaskell play in the centres? Will he leave even? Despite our good form against everyone except Wigan his exclusion from the team is baffling to say the least. Maybe I'm missing something but he looks a terrific talent and I hope his nose isn't put out of joint further by learning that Brown seemingly doesn't see him as a first-teamer.

Hooker isn't a problem but if I was Brown I would look to spell Roby, Hahaia and/or Lomax can do this so no need to look elsewhere.

Spell Roby?? Are you for real - the guy comfortably plays 80 mins and is as effective in 80th minute as he is in 1st, no need to spell him at all

Chase an organiser? Did anybody watch the game at Bradford the other week? He was like Craig Johnston when he used to play for Liverpool.

I'm not doubting his ability to play 80 minutes but I'm not sure it's sensible to keep relying on him to produce at the same level moving forward. Furthermore, his threat has been easily dealt with in all three games against Wigan this season and I think we would benefit from a bit of variety out of dummy-half.

I'd suggest if you want more variety, we should give him more options and have a more varied game plan.
Our lack of imagination over the recent seasons has pushed us down a very 1D path. The fact that Roby is an excellent scooter has helped paper over that and even encouraged it.
He's got a lot more in his nal that just running. He may not quite be Michael Monoghan in that sense, but its a disservice to suggest he doesn't have other skills befitting a quality hooker.